junction
karasu
The
voices
in
his
head
grew
louder
as
he
entered
the
forest
.
Languages
he
could
not
understand
,
Words
that
had
long
since
died
and
words
that
had
yet
to
come
into
existence
.
In
the
failing
light
,
he
could
see
the
structure
in
the
distance
and
quickened
his
pace
,
his
legs
ached
as
he
made
his
way
,
he
wanted
to
stop
and
rest
but
there
was
not
time
.
There
would
not
be
time
.
For
a
moment
he
was
unsure
of
the
quickest
path
until
he
saw
the
drag
marks
in
the
ground
at
his
feet
and
the
more
organized
footprints
on
either
side
.
When
he
reached
the
clearing
,
he
did
not
know
whether
to
cry
or
laugh
as
he
saw
his
counterpart
butchering
one
of
his
own
,
having
apparently
misread
the
number
as
it
was
written
.
He
distracted
the
shadowy figure
who
stood
at
the
base
of
the
steps
between
the
catch
basins
where
the
blood
pooled
and
tried
to
charge
the
man
who
stood
before
the
altar
He
cut
the
heart
from
the
disciple
who
smiled beatifically
at
the
darkening
sky
,
but
before
he
could
throw
it
down
he
saw
his
opponent
in
the
grip
os
the
god
He
felt
himself
lifted
as
the
shape
used
some
unknown
means
to
hurl
him
up
the
steps
at
the
priest
whose jaw dropped
in
disbelief
as
he
looked
at
the
face
of
the
man
suddenly
sailing toward
him
He
dropped
the
twitching
heart
which
came
to
rest
on
the
stone
steps
just
as
his
mirror
image
crashed
into
him
sneding
them
tumbling
over
the
altar
and
onto
the
bodies
which
were
already
in
the
bone
pit
behind
it
.
They
had
struck
each
other
square
on
the
forehead
which
resulted
in
a
small
wound
running
diagonally
down
from
their
hairlines.
The
one
who
had
stood
at
the
altar grabbed
the
heart
and
lobbed
it
weakly
down
the
stairs
where
it
bounced several
times
before
being
devoured
by
the
god
.
His
dismay
was
apparent
when
the
waiting
deity
did
not
solidify
and
ascend
the
staps
as
he
was
supposed
to
.
The
sun
was
setting
over
the
temple
.
The
blood
ran
down
the
steps
that
led
up
to
the
altar.
The
penultimate
sacrifice
made
and
the
heart
cast
to
the
mouth
of
the
figure
who
waited
below
waiting
for
one
more
.
010702
...
spoons
platform
9
3
/4
011019
what's it to you?
who
go
blather
from
